182 



TITE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



An account of Major Halleb's pro- 

 cess may be found in Popular ^Science 

 Monthly for July, 1883. 



So far as the Station work has gone, 

 those claims of Major Hallet have re- 

 ceived confirmation. It is particularly 

 noticeable that when each kernel of the 

 ear of wheat is planted by itself, one 

 kernel has invariably proved far more 

 productive than any other one, not per 

 gradum but per saltum, i. e., not regu- 

 larly, but at a jump. 



E. Lewis Sturtevaxt, Director. 



EARLY GREENS FOR NEXT SPRING. 



The city markets in the early part of 

 spring, and often in a mild spell in 

 winter, abound in " greens," and there 

 is no reason why these should not be 

 equally abundant on every farm. Where 

 the meat served is to a great extent 

 salted, green vegetables are not only 

 acceptable, but necessary to health. 

 Cabbage is for many so indigestible, 

 that it can not be eaten, and where this 

 difficulty does not exist, a variety is 

 always welcome. Spinach, the most 

 delicate and palatable of all the vege- 

 tables used as greens, can be raised on 

 any good farm land, and with very little 

 trouble. The soil being well prepared 

 by the use of the plow and harrow, 

 mark it otF in tifteen-inch drills, and 

 sow the seed rather thickly, covering it 

 with about half an inch of soil. Use a 

 roller, or pat the soil down firmly with 

 the hoe or back of the spade. Some 

 carefully go over the rows and tread 

 down the soil over them. The fall 

 rains soon bring up the plants ; they 

 will grow rapidly and be large enough 

 to gather in September or October. 

 For use at this time, the plants, where 

 they are thickest, are to be cut out at 

 intervals, using a stout knife, leaving 

 the remainder room to grow. Where 

 the winters are severe, scatter straw, 

 leaves or other litter between the rows, 



and slightly cover the plants. As soon 

 as the ground thaws, cuttings may be 

 made, and if this is done so as to thin 

 the plants a second time, the rest will 

 grow all the larger, and be ready to use 

 later. " Sprouts," as it is called in the 

 market, is a variety of kale, a cabbage 

 that does not head. This is cultivated 

 in the same manner as spinach. If a 

 farmer finds that he has more spinach 

 than can be consumed at home, a few 

 barrels of it will meet with a ready 

 sale at the nearest market. — American 

 Agriculturist for August. 



LIMA BEANS AS A FARM CROP. 



The Lima, the most popular bean 

 among amateurs and market gardeners, 

 is slow in finding its way into the 

 gardens of farmers. The dry beans sell 

 for several dollars a bushel, and the 

 market has never been adequately sup- 

 plied. Lima beans are easily raised, 

 and yield as bountifully as most other 

 pole beans ; and they continue to blos- 

 som and bear until killed by the frost. 

 We know of no reason why they can 

 not be made a specialty, like hops or 

 tobacco, and grown on a large scale. 

 They would require better soil and 

 treatment than the common field bean, 

 but as the price is three times greater, 

 these could well be afforded. A rich 

 gravelly or sandy loam suits them best, 

 and the phosphatic manures are well 

 adapted to them. On this kind of soil 

 we have not found them to run to too 

 much vines, even with heavy dressings 

 of compost })repared from muck and 

 stable manure. The vine is a strong 

 grower and requires abundant nourish- 

 ment. The pods are formed quite 

 thickly from the top to the bottom of 

 the poles. They want the full benefit 

 of the sun and the rows running north 

 and south, should be four feet apart 

 and the hills four feet apart in the row. 

 In planting we prefer to put the eye 



